notes -- did you really carry them with you everywhere?

[barelyutterly]

Had my first appt with the midwife earlier this week, the long one where she fills out your notes in great detail. She didn't actually give them to me yet, apparently I'll get them after my scan in 2 weeks. This is my first pregnancy, I'm at nearly 11 weeks now and so far low risk and pretty normal.

She did say when I get them, I have to have them with me everywhere I go. I'm a pretty active cyclist, runner, I walk almost everywhere in our little town. She said "on the bike, on a run, you have to take them". I get the impression she doesn't fully understand what it means to go cycling or running, it's not exactly easy to bring along a binder full of notes.

So I'm curious what other people do or have done. Certainly when I get further along I'll be more inclined to keep them close by, but at the moment if something happened to me I can't see the doctors being able to help me and the fetus anyway. So it seems a bit of a faff. If it's a question of people needing to know I'm pregnant, I'd rather wear a medic-alert bracelet or whatever temporarily.

Thoughts?

No! I'm 33 weeks now, and have never taken them anywhere other than to midwife and hospital appointments. I am however going away for a weekend next weekend, and will pack them. And I might strat leaving them in the car in a couple of weeks time if we're going out for the day.

I only carry them on appointment days. Maybe towards the last month, I will keep them with me more often but seems a little pointless to have them all of the time if you are not high risk.

Hahaha. No. Mine stay safely at home. After 35 weeks I would probably take them with me if I was going away for the night. But I don't believe anyone carries them around constantly from as soon as they get them. They're massive!

No. And even not carrying them with me I managed to lose them at about 6 months. They weren't impressed.

I'm the same as ilovemountains although now I've got to 35 weeks I have started keeping them in the car just in case!

I did do a photocopy of them to take abroad with me on holiday back in the summer but I remember thinking at the time that a Spanish doctor is never going to understand my midwife's scribble!

No! Ridiculous, doesn't fit in my handbag.

Maybe in the last month I will or if I'm going travelling, or if something starts going wrong.

But generally not, it seems excessive and if I do faint or something it will be quite obvious to bystanders that the proble is 'she's preggers'.

I have a big handbag so if I go anywhere with that then I have them (folded in half) but I don't worry too much.

Mine are at home, though I try to keep them with me if I go anywhere as I am now in my 36th week.

I noticed the other day that every single women in the waiting room for the midwife at my surgery was keeping theirs in the plastic bounty folder!!! no wonder mine are so battered! Had I known that's what it was for mine might be in better condition.

I used to, but that was because I had awful pita pregnancies that often meant dropping my shopping and heading for the nearest A&E. For a normal, low risk I can't see why you would need to until you were pretty far along.

no - >

Not at all. Still don't now (39+6) but I couldn't see a situation where I wouldn't be able to pop home and get them.

I asked this very same question a few months ago here as I was told the same thing at my booking in. Almost everyone said no, they only took theirs to appointments or everywhere when they were very close to due date.

I've been carrying mine since about 25 weeks - I have about 3 appointments a week so it's less hassle to just keep them in my bag.

I had a bleed at around33 weeks when I was out shopping across London and went to the nearest A&E - I didn't have my notes and they were really really cross with me. I had to give information about 6 times and didn't know things like my blood group.

Well I'm 26 weeks with my first and haven't taken them anywhere except my appointments yet.

I did put them in my suitcase when I went on holiday but didn't actually carry them around.

D

I take mine places (am 28wks), but leave them in the car, so the notes are in the same town at least, if not exactly on me.

No, mine are also at home - despite me getting a ticking off from a mw at my hospital when I called last week to chase the date for my 20 week scan, as she was very unimpressed I didn't have them with me when I made the call!

I only ever took mine with me if we went on holiday/away for the weekend.

Even in the last few weeks I didn't take them with me to work/shopping/days out/visits to family etc.

Not even sure where mine are just now! Will seek them out in time for next mw appt though [simle]

No and i had a lecture as a result when i had to admit myself in labour at 30 weeks miles from home.

BUT why do they make them so bloody big! I might have had them if they fit in my handbag.

Only when I was away (on holiday).

I had to transfer in during a homebirth - the midwives forgot the notes and had to go back round to my flat for them! Lucky we live close to the hospital.

No - but in late pregnancy its a good idea to take them with you if going away for a long weekend etc and you do need to remember to take them to every appointment.

Yep, both pregnancies. But I was high risk for both. And I managed to use the same big handbag both times!

Wow that was a lot of quick responses! Thanks everyone. Put my mind at ease at bit. I definitely won't be carrying mine around much, except for long car trips and the like. And appts of course.